Advisors Signal Desire for More Technology and Product Education to Drive Growth in New Study from Broadridge and FSI

Rhea-AI Summary

Broadridge (NYSE: BR) and FSI released a joint survey on Feb. 2, 2026 showing advisors want more technology and product education to support growth. Key findings: 68% of advisors lack confidence in current tech, 51% use generative AI, and 53% see growing client interest in cryptocurrency.

The study highlights priorities for broker-dealer investment (account opening 22%, paperwork automation 15%, client tools 15%, planning 10%) and that 82% want better training and awareness to drive growth.

Positive

• 51% of advisors currently use generative AI
• 76% say better technology would improve new client acquisition
• 82% report better training would help drive business growth
• 38% say technology improved tracking and analytics for alternatives

Negative

• 68% of advisors not confident their technology supports growth goals
• 30% would consider broker-dealer changes based on tool access
• 48% report they need to build knowledge on cryptocurrency
• 53% report growing client interest in cryptocurrency while it remains low priority

News Market Reaction

+0.62%

4 alerts

+0.62% News Effect

-10.1% Trough Tracked

+$143M Valuation Impact

$23.15B Market Cap

1.1x Rel. Volume

On the day this news was published, BR gained 0.62%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction. Argus tracked a trough of -10.1% from its starting point during tracking. Our momentum scanner triggered 4 alerts that day, indicating moderate trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $143M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $23.15B at that time.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Advisors not confident in tech: 68% Advisors using generative AI: 51% Better tech boosts acquisition: 76% +5 more

8 metrics

Advisors not confident in tech 68% Advisors not very confident current tech supports growth goals

Advisors using generative AI 51% Advisors reporting current use of generative AI in business

Better tech boosts acquisition 76% Advisors agreeing better tools would greatly improve new client acquisition

Training and awareness help growth 82% Advisors saying better training/awareness of tools would drive growth

Client interest in cryptocurrency 53% Advisors reporting growing client interest in cryptocurrency

Need more crypto knowledge 48% Advisors saying they need to build knowledge on cryptocurrency

Increased demand for alternatives 31% Advisors seeing increased client demand for alternative investments

Confident advising on alternatives 77% Advisors confident in advising clients on alternative investments

Market Reality Check

Price: $193.54 Vol: Volume 906,884 is slightl...

normal vol

$193.54 Last Close

Volume Volume 906,884 is slightly elevated vs 20-day average of 814,957 (relative volume 1.11x). normal

Technical Shares at 197.11 trade below the 200-day MA of 236.14 and sit close to the 52-week low of 193.06 (well below the 271.91 high).

Peers on Argus

BR is up 0.59% while key peers show mixed but generally positive moves: CTSH +0....

BR is up 0.59% while key peers show mixed but generally positive moves: CTSH +0.11%, FIS +0.15%, LDOS +1.41%, GIB +1.51%, and WIT flat. Momentum scanners show no sector-wide move.

Common Catalyst Peer news includes AI-related collaboration at CTSH, echoing BR’s focus on AI and advisor technology enablement.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 22 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 22	Corporate recognition	Positive	+1.4%	FORTUNE 'World’s Most Admired Companies' listing for financial data services.
Jan 21	Earnings call notice	Neutral	-1.2%	Announcement of Q2 FY26 earnings release and webcast scheduling.
Jan 15	Industry report	Neutral	-0.7%	Hippo’s 2025 homeowner Housepower Report on sentiment and costs.
Jan 08	Platform volume update	Positive	+1.6%	DLR platform processing average of $384B daily and nearly $9T in December repos.
Jan 08	AI strategic investment	Positive	+1.6%	Minority investment in DeepSee to embed agentic AI in post-trade operations.

Pattern Detected

Recent BR-related news, especially around AI, tokenization, and platform scale, has generally coincided with positive 24-hour price reactions, suggesting constructive market reception to technology and innovation themes.

Recent Company History

Over the last few weeks, Broadridge has highlighted recognition on Jan 22, 2026 as one of FORTUNE’s 2026 World’s Most Admired Companies, with a 1.42% next-day gain. Earlier, it announced a webcast for Q2 FY26 results on Feb 3, 2026, which saw a modest -1.16% move. On Jan 8, 2026, Broadridge reported strong growth in its Distributed Ledger Repo platform and a strategic AI investment in DeepSee; each coincided with +1.57% reactions. Today’s advisor-technology study aligns with this ongoing narrative of digital, AI, and tokenization-driven growth.

Regulatory & Risk Context

Active S-3 Shelf

Shelf Active

Active S-3 Shelf Registration 2025-08-05

BR has an effective S-3ASR shelf filed on 2025-08-05, expiring 2028-08-05, with 0 recorded usages to date. While it provides flexibility to raise capital, no prospectus supplements are noted in the recent usage data.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement underscores strong advisor demand for improved technology, with 51% already using ...

Analysis

This announcement underscores strong advisor demand for improved technology, with 51% already using generative AI and 76% saying better tools would enhance client acquisition. It also highlights gaps, as 68% lack confidence their current tech supports growth and 48% seek more cryptocurrency education. Recent Broadridge news has emphasized AI, tokenization, and scaled market infrastructure, suggesting a consistent strategy. Investors may watch how upcoming earnings and product rollouts demonstrate progress against these advisor needs.

Key Terms

generative ai, digital assets, broker-dealer, client onboarding, +2 more

6 terms

generative ai technical

"51% of advisors already use generative AI, with client engagement and marketing..."

Generative AI is a type of computer technology that can create new content, like text, images, or music, on its own. It’s important because it can produce realistic and useful material quickly, which could change how we create art, write stories, or even develop new products. Think of it as a smart robot that can invent and produce things almost like a human.

digital assets financial

"expand their product offerings to include asset classes like digital assets."

Digital assets are electronic files or representations of value stored electronically, such as cryptocurrencies, digital tokens, or digital art. They matter to investors because they can be bought, sold, and used for transactions much like physical assets, but exist entirely in digital form, offering new opportunities for investment and financial innovation.

broker-dealer financial

"tools would influence decisions about their broker-dealer relationships."

A broker-dealer is a licensed firm or individual that both executes trades on behalf of clients (acting as a broker) and buys or sells securities for its own account (acting as a dealer). Investors care because broker-dealers provide the plumbing of markets — they place orders, hold or move cash and securities, offer research or advice, and their stability and fees directly affect trade execution, costs, and the safety of client funds; think of them as a combined travel agent and taxi for your investments.

client onboarding technical

"account opening and client onboarding (22%), paperwork automation (15%)..."

Client onboarding is the process a company uses to bring a new customer or client into its services, including identity checks, account setup, contract signing, and initial training or configuration. For investors, smooth onboarding is like a well-run welcome desk: it reduces the risk of errors, speeds revenue recognition, lowers the chance of regulatory problems, and signals that the business can scale customer growth efficiently.

cryptocurrency financial

"More than half of advisors (53%) report growing client interest in cryptocurrency..."

Cryptocurrency is a type of digital money that uses special computer codes to secure transactions and control the creation of new units. Unlike traditional cash, it exists only electronically and isn't issued or regulated by any government or bank. For investors, it represents a new form of asset that can be used for transactions or held as an investment, often with the potential for high gains but also significant risks.

alternative investments financial

"client demand for alternatives; however, confidence is higher as 77% of advisors..."

Alternative investments are assets outside traditional stocks, bonds and cash, such as real estate, private equity, hedge funds, commodities, collectibles, and venture capital. They matter to investors because they can provide different sources of return and risk, like adding a new flavor to a meal, helping diversify a portfolio, potentially smoothing volatility or boosting long-term returns when conventional markets struggle.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

Investor interest in cryptocurrency increases despite limited advisor education, 
51% of advisors already use generative AI, with client engagement and marketing as top benefits

NEW YORK, Feb. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR), a global Fintech leader, and the Financial Services Institute (FSI), the leading advocacy organization for independent financial firms and independent financial advisors, today released a joint study, showing that advisors' growth ambitions are creating fresh demand for stronger technology and education support.

According to the survey, 68% of advisors are not very confident that their firm's current technology environment is optimized to support their growth goals, with 30% indicating that access to the right mix of tools would influence decisions about their broker-dealer relationships. At the same time, over three-quarters (76%) of advisors agree that better technology tools would greatly improve new client acquisition, signaling that there is meaningful upside for firms to continue investing in modern, advisor-friendly capabilities and the enablement needed to help advisors fully leverage them as their practices grow and scale.

"As client expectations rise, advisors are looking for more connected technology and stronger education to support growth," said Chris Perry, President of Broadridge. "Broadridge works closely with advisors and firms to help modernize technology environments, improve efficiency, and support more seamless client experiences, all of which help advisors streamline their practices, attract and retain next-gen clients, and expand their product offerings to include asset classes like digital assets."

The findings highlight a clear opportunity to further modernize and connect advisor technology, strengthen education around emerging asset classes, and deliver intuitive tools that help advisors grow their businesses while building deeper relationships with next-generation investors.

Platform priorities shape advisor views on growth support and enablement

When asked where broker-dealers should prioritize investments to improve technology capabilities, advisors point to a short list of practical, day-to-day functions that directly affect efficiency and client experience: account opening and client onboarding (22%), paperwork automation (15%), client-facing tools (15%), and financial planning tools (10%).

Beyond technology, advisors say more training and better awareness of available tools would help. More than eight in ten advisors (82%) say that better training and greater awareness of available technology would help them more effectively drive business growth, underscoring the importance of not only modern tools, but also education and enablement.

AI as a core tool for client engagement

Adoption of generative AI is already widespread among advisors, with 51% reporting current use across at least one area of their business. Usage is highest among younger advisors, with 67% under age 45 leveraging AI tools, compared to 43% of advisors 65 and over. Adoption is also higher among larger practices, with 55% of advisors at firms managing $50 million or more in assets reporting AI use, compared with 43% of smaller practices (managing less than $50 million in assets).

On average, advisors using AI report applying it in two areas: client engagement (29%) and marketing (21%). These findings underscore AI's growing role in improving efficiency, scaling engagement, and supporting advisor growth.

"Client expectations are rising as investors adopt a digital-first mindset and have access to more information about financial products and investment options than ever before," said Dale Brown, President & CEO of FSI. "Across the independent financial services industry, momentum is building around the adoption of AI and other emerging technologies to increase efficiency and elevate the client experience. Innovative digital tools create a powerful opportunity to enhance client services, strengthen advisor-client relationships and support sustainable growth, while helping independent advisors and firms build lasting relationships with the next generation of investors."

Growing investor demand for specialty asset classes outpaces advisor confidence

The study shows a clear increase in investor interest across non-traditional investment categories, yet very few advisors feel very confident advising on specialty investment products. More than half of advisors (53%) report growing client interest in cryptocurrency, despite ranking cryptocurrency as their lowest priority and nearly half (48%) reporting that they need to build their knowledge on the asset class.

Similarly, 31% of advisors report increased client demand for alternatives; however, confidence is higher as 77% of advisors feel confident in their ability to advise clients on these investments.

In addition to education, advisors also report that technology is a key enabler of their ability to manage alternative investments on behalf of clients. Thirty-eight percent of advisors note that technology has improved tracking, performance, and analytics monitoring, and 37% cite that technology overall has increased their access to alternative investment opportunities.

Methodology

This survey was a joint initiative between Broadridge and FSI, and conducted by 8 Acre Perspective Corp. A total of 428 financial advisors and employees of financial advisory firms completed the survey, which was fielded from Aug. 4-28, 2025.

About Broadridge

Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE: BR) is a global technology leader with trusted expertise and transformative technology, helping clients and the financial services industry operate, innovate, and grow. We power investing, governance, and communications for our clients – driving operational resiliency, elevating business performance, and transforming investor experiences.

Our technology and operations platforms process and generate over 7 billion communications annually and underpin the daily average trading of over $15 trillion in equities, fixed income, and other securities globally. A certified Great Place to Work^®, Broadridge is part of the S&P 500^® Index, employing over 15,000 associates in 21 countries. For more information, visit www.broadridge.com.

About the Financial Services Institute

The Financial Services Institute (FSI) is the only organization advocating solely on behalf of independent financial advisors and independent financial services firms. Since 2004, through advocacy, education and public awareness, FSI has successfully promoted a more responsible regulatory environment for over 60 independent financial services firm members and their 130,000+ affiliated financial advisors – which comprise over 45% of all producing registered representatives. We effect change through involvement in FINRA governance as well as constructive engagement in the regulatory and legislative processes, working to create a healthier regulatory environment for our members so they can provide affordable, objective advice to hard-working Main Street Americans.

For more information, please visit financialservices.org

Media Contacts:

For Broadridge
Caroline Wolf
cwolf@prosek.com 

For FSI
Michael Dugan
mdugan@haventower.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/advisors-signal-desire-for-more-technology-and-product-education-to-drive-growth-in-new-study-from-broadridge-and-fsi-302675265.html

SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc.

FAQ

How many advisors told Broadridge and FSI they lack confidence in current technology (BR)?

A majority of advisors reported low confidence: 68% are not very confident in their firm's technology. According to Broadridge and FSI, this gap links directly to advisor growth goals and desire for more modern, connected tools and enablement.

What proportion of advisors surveyed by Broadridge and FSI currently use generative AI (BR)?

51% of advisors report current use of generative AI in at least one business area. According to Broadridge and FSI, usage is higher among younger advisors and larger practices, primarily for client engagement and marketing.

What tech priorities did advisors rank highest in the Broadridge/FSI study (BR)?

Advisors prioritized account opening and onboarding most, at 22%, followed by paperwork automation and client-facing tools. According to Broadridge and FSI, these day-to-day functions directly affect efficiency and client experience.

How does the study describe advisor readiness to advise on cryptocurrency (BR)?

The study finds growing client interest in crypto but limited advisor confidence: 53% see increased interest while 48% say they need more knowledge. According to Broadridge and FSI, education and tech enablement are needed to close the gap.

What share of advisors said better training and awareness would help grow their business (BR)?

82% of advisors said better training and greater awareness of available technology would support business growth. According to Broadridge and FSI, this underscores that tools plus enablement are essential for advisor scalability.

How did advisors report using AI across business areas in the Broadridge/FSI survey (BR)?

Advisors using AI apply it in about two areas on average, with client engagement at 29% and marketing at 21%. According to Broadridge and FSI, AI is being used to scale engagement and improve operational efficiency.